Advertising and display device



Aug. 24 1926.

R. R. CHILDS ADVERTISING AND DISPLAY DEVICE O L 1 c o n 3 Filed Sept. 17, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Guam? Aug. 24 1926.

R. R. CHILDS ADVERTISING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept 17, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fltbozueq particularly .for use by tailors,- clothing Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. cmns, OI BOANOKE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE THIRTY-SECOND 'lO J. L. EARLY, OF SALTVILLE, VIRGINIA; ONE-SIXTEENTH TO W. H. WOODS, O]?

SALEM, VIBGDQ'IA; ONE SIXTY-FOURTH TO L. TEBEE SIxTY-FOUBTHS TO J'- T. LAYMAN, THIRTY-SECOND TO HERMAN JAKOIBSSON, OF

ONE-BIXTEENTE TO 0. '1. LAYMAN, OF

VIRGINIA; 'TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND; AND LAFAYETTE, VIRGINIA.

ADVERTISING AND DISPLAY DEVICE.

This invention relates to advertising devices, particularly those of the automatic movable type, and has for its object the provision of a novel advertising device designed dealers,'modistes and others for the purposes, of'making a very attractiveexhibition 91' different styles in suits, dresses,fcoats, hats and other garments, or in fact any desired articles. 1;} An important and'morespe'cific' object is, the provision of an advertising mechanism including a display cabinet provided with means whereby a series of dummiesmay be caused to make'their appearance attinter-a vals, the dummies being dressed in-the par; ticular garments to' be exhibited so that a: very clear indication may be given as to the particular styles or the like." v v vice of this nature "provided with ,means' whereby only'one dummy will "be exposed, 1 toview at a'certain time, the othersfbeing A entirely concealed by an automatically voperated curtain arrangement so mounted with respect to the other partsofthe apparatus that it will open and close periodically in ac cordance with the positions of the dummies I The invention further contemplates- ,thej provision of means whereby thedu'inmy will, after travelling out' of the cabinet jalong a suitable runway; .be'c'aiised to turnaround several times" in order'that. allportions of f the modelfgarment's may be finspectedl and, whereby the effect from all different angles;

wmay beseen.

provision of a cabinet structure and movable means embodying "various detailed f eati res which will greatly enhancejthe attractive ness so'thatthedevicewill a real ornai ment'whensetiup a'n d o'perat ashow windowor'other placegf v, An additionalobjectis 'thefrovi' s' on of an --'advertisingdevice "ofth s lchar'acter' fiwhich will lie -simple and inez pensiveginj manufactum;con i u u nd fl m tl c" f v v projects considerably beyond the; front of inti- Another object is the provides era de-ij Application flled september 17, 1024. Serial no. 788,5381.

and a general improvement in the art.

W th the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the. details of construction and arrangement oft parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a perspective viewof the complete device; p a I Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken abovethe, runway; 1

F lgure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing the travelling chain arrangement together with the operating means therefor, thisview also illustrating a plurality of dummies; I

: -F1gure 4 is a detailed cross section shown g for the dummies and th gllldes therefor; y

F gure, 5is a detailed fragmentary horizontal section showing the means for operatingthe curtains; e

- .Fl t s a detailedsection n {M feline Figure Tis a perspective view showing the curtains and operating members therefor.

Referring more particularlyto the drawngs, the: numeral 10 designates the cabinet as a whole, which cabinet .may be ofiany desired size, shape and materialsand ornamented n any preferred manner: dependingupon the contemplated cost and the taste offthel manufacturer. The cabinet includes" lowezfiportion 11, which constitutes a hous ng for the operating mechanism and I a a e v. ;itffurtherincludes an upper-portion12-hav- The invention has for a further. object the .tangular. partial enclosure onwall structure ili'representing aroom and provided at opinga floor'13 upon which is mounted a recposite'f ends, or sides with openings 151 and front" of theupper P01131011; 12, of th'fcabinet is .formed with a door 0 ning f 17 nearwhich the forward edges ofvt e side .;wa11s of Qthe room structure terminate;

the cabinet fora purpose to be described,

The floor 13 and runway 18 are formed with a single continuous slot 19 which defines a T-shaped trackway beneath which are secured angular or flanged guides 20. Located at the corners of the trackway are sprockets 21 mounted upon shafts 22 suitably ournaled through the floor 13 or through any other supporting means. Tralned about all of these sprockets as clearly indicated in Figure 3 is an endless chain 23.

For driving the chain, use may be made of any preferred power device, though 1n the present instance I have shown a suitable electric motor 24 having its shaft 25 carrying a worm 26 meshing with a worm wheel 27 on one of the shafts 22. Any control mechanism for regulating the speed of the motor may be provided but such is not shown as it forms no part of the present nvention.

The chain 23 carries a lurahty of dummies 28, each of which is here shown as mounted upon a rod or spindle 29 ournaIed in an angular bracket 30 suitably mounted on the chain. Each rod or sp ndle carries a disc 31 and a spur gear or pinion 32. any desired number of dummies may be provided located at any desired distances apart along the chain and it will be observed that the rod or spindles 29 pass through and are adapted to travel along the slot 10 when the chain is driven, the discs 31 being disposed within the guides 20 for not only reventing up and down movement of the ummies but for steadying them at all times and pre venting any lateral shaking or rocking.

Mounted within the runway 18 at the forward extremity thereof is an internal segmental gear or an arcuate rack 33 with which the pinion 32 of each rod 29 meshes as the successive dummies reach the end of the runway, the purpose being to cause rotat1on of the dam so that all sides may be 1nspected. 11 actual practice the various dummies may be diflerently dressed so as give an accurate portrayal of the styles 1n suits or other articles or garments handled by the dealer using the device.

Mounted above the door opening 17 in the upper portion 12 of the cabinet is a guide rod 34 from which are suspended cur tains 35 which have their upper ends secured to metallic or other rigid strips 36 equipped with guide rings 37 or the like slidable on the rod 34 so that the curtains will be capable of movement out of or into obstructing relation to the opening 17. Slidable on the rod 34 and secured to the strips -36"near the inner ends thereof are other ring. members'38' formed on arms 39 and 40 connected by a coil spring 41 which normally holds the curtains together. Secured to the ends of the arms 39v and 40 are cords or other flexible members 42 and 43 respectively which are trained over' suitably mounted guide pulleysor rollers 44located at any necessary points and which have their other ends connected with slides 45 and 46 respectively. I also provide a flexible member 47 trained over uide pulleys 48 at opposite sides of the oor opening 17 and connected with the arms 39 and 40 so that when one curtain is pulled open the other will be correspondingly moved into open position, and vice versa. It will be observed that the arrangement of the flexible members and pulleys is such that when either slide is moved toward the curtains the curtains will be slid apart.

Each of the slides 45 and 46 is mounted within a suitable guide 49.

The operating means for moving the slides when opening the curtains consists of spring fingers 50 mounted on the chain 23 1n any desired manner at points spaced in advance of the dummies, and these spring fingers project outwardly beyond the chain so as to engage against rojections 51 on the slides 45 and 46 where y to move them to the ends of their guides. These springs are of sutlicient strength to carry the slides along until they reach the ends of their guides whereupon the fingers will yield and slip over and pass the projections.

In the operation, it will be seen that when the motor 24 is energized, the chain 23 will bedriven so that the series of dummies 28 will move along the trackway. Shortly before a dummy reaches a point near the inside of the curtains 35, one of the sprin fingers 50 will engage the rojection 51 on the slide 45 and exert a u 1 upon the flex ible member 42 which will result in pulling the associated curtain laterally. Owing to the fact that the arms 30 and 40 of the curtains are connected by the flexible member 47, it is obvious that the other curtain will likewise be moved laterally. In this way both curtains are moved apart against the resistance of the spring 41 and will remain separated until the dummy has passed through the opening 17, at which time the spring finger will sli over and beyond the projection engaged tiiereby and permit the spring 41 to return the curtains to normal or closed position in which they will remain while the dummy travels along the runway and back again. When the dummy reaches the forward end of the runway it will be rotated owing to the engagement of the pinion 32 with the arcuate rack 33. After the dummy has been thus thoroughly exhibited, it is carried back toward the cabinet and upon approaching the front thereof the s ring finger will engage the projection 51 on t e shde 46 and exert a pull upon the flexible member-43, thereby again causing the curtains to slide apart so that the dummy may enter the cabinet. This 0 ration is of course the same for each 0 the successive dummies. The purpose of having the room structure formed b the rectangular enclosure orthewalls 1 is'to preventaview of themechanism during the short'time' inter vals that the I curtains are open' for the passageofthe dummies into andoutsofthe cabinet. 5' a j 7 Fromthe foregoing" description and a study of the drawings itwill be'a'pparent thatl have thus provided a comparativel simple devicer'which is particularlywe adapted for dis lay urposes in advertising styles or. the li e. ydressingithe series of, dummies in difi'erent types of I suits-or other garments it is obvious that a dealer maydlsplay the different fashions orstyles aswell as typesof garmentsjandm'ay also exhibithis stock of different materials. As a matter of fact thefield of utility for the;

device is' almost unlimited as 'it "is"c'apable ofeemployment' by dealers in widely differ ent kinds of merchandise, there being' no' limitation as to the-employment, of dummies inasmuch as 1 articles themselves might'be easily'carried by the chain if such an arrangement should be found satisfactory or 'desirableufor any reason whatsoever;

, While I have shown and described'a pre ferred embodiment of the invention 1t will be understood that I reserve therlghtto makeall such changes in the form, detailed construction, and arrangement and combi-" nation. offparts provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a display device, a cabinet equipped with a runway and provided with a door opening, a trackway within the cabinet extending through the door opening and along the runway, an endless member mounted beneath the trackway, means for driving the endless member, a dummy travelling along the trackway and moved by the endless-.member, a door for said door opening, means for supporting the door for sliding movement in a direction transverse to that portion of the trackway disposed through the door opening. means for nor-" mally maintaining said door closed, and automatic means for opening the door at a predetermined time in advance of the exit and entrance of the dummy through the door opening 2. A disp ay device comprising a cabinet having a door opening, a runway extending in advance of such opening, an endless trackway within the cabinet and extending upon the runway through the door opening, a door for normally closing said door opening, means for supporting said door for sliding movement in a direction transverse to the portion of the trackway disposed through the door opening, means for movr n adu y along th tr w y, and matic 'melans for movingfthe'slidmg door in; to open" position at a predetermined time in advance ,oftheentrance or exit of the dummythroughthe, opening. I. '3, In a jde'viceof thefcharacter described, a cabinet 'having sprawl] and provided with'adoono ening, a e-ac way withinthe cabinet exten ing alongthe runway, an endless mernberfinounted beneath the trackway, mean for driving the endless" member, a plurality of supports carriedf by the, endless member and movable along the trackway, said fsupport'sbeing adapted, to carry dummies,- means normally closing the dooropen-- ing, "and" means operated f movement. a of the endless memberfforlopening said second namedfmea ns including I movable, elements supported independently of the endless member and the door operatively connected with the second namedmeans, and trips carri ed b the endless member engageable, with the character described, I

endless member, a plurality of upstanding" supports carried bythe endless member and slidable alongfthe trackway, means on the a runway engageable by the successive supports for effecting rotation thereof upon reaching a predetermined point, said last named means comprisin a pinion on each support, and a rack on t e runway engageable by the successive pinions.

5. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a door 0 ening and a runway, a trackway within t e cabinet extending along the runway, an endless member beneath the trackway, means for driving the endless member, a plurality of upstanding su ports carried by the endless member an slidable along the trackway, means on the runway engageable by the successive supports for effecting rotation thereof upon reaching a predetermined point, said means comprising a inion on each support, and an arcuate rac located at the forward extremity of the runway and engageable by the successive pinions.

6. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a door opening and a runway in front of the opening, a trackway within the cabinet extending along the runway, an endless member movably mounted at the bottom of the trackway, a plurality of supports carried by the endless member and movable along the trackway, means for driving the endless member, a pair of slidably mounted closure members for the opening, slides mounted adjacent the trackway and operatively connected with the closure members, and trips carried by the endless member adapted to engage the slides for moving the closure members to open position.

7; In a device of the character described,

a cabinet having a door openin and a runway in advance thereof, an en less member mounted within the cabinet and extending along the runway, means for drivin the endless member, a slidably mounted c osure member normally obstructing the door 0 ning, slides mounted adjacent the en es member, flexible connections between the slides and the closure member, and fingers carried by the endless member and engageable with the slides for moving the closure member to open position.

8. In a device of the character described, a floor having a continuous slot, flanged guides arranged below the floor at opposite sides of the slot, an endless member movable along the slot, means for moving the endless member, an upstanding rod operatively engaged with the endless member and extending through the slot, a figure carried by the rod above the floor, and a disc carried by the rod extending within the flanged guidesto hold the rod in desired position.

9. In a device of the character described, a floor having a continuous slot, flanged guides arranged below the floor at opposite sides of the slot, an endless member movable along the slot, means for moving the endless member, an upstanding rod operatively engaged with the endless member and extending through the slot, a figure carried II by the rod above the floor, a disc carried by the rod extending within the flanged to hold the rod in desired position, an means coacting'with the portion of the rod below the floor for rotating the rod.

10. A display device comprising a cabinet havi a door opening and a runway in advance 0 the openlng, a continuous trackway disposed in substantially a T-formation, the stem portion extending through the 4| door 0 ning upon the rlmway, a member adap to traverse the trackway, a dummy supported by the member, means for moving the member along the trackway, a door normall closing the opening, automatic means fbr opening the door before the entrance or exit of the member throu the opening, and a wall structure withm the cabinet defining a room into which the door opening communicates, said wall structure at opposite sides of the door opening being provided with openings throu h which the inner portions of the head of t e trackway extend.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my .0

signature.

ROBERT R. CHUJDS- 

